For the past several years I've been an advocate of getting a permanent email address and having your mail forwarded to your actual ISP.

However, if you've got your own domain, and are paying for web hosting, this may no longer be the best solution.

For example, I've used Stephen@Canale.com as my email address since my first days on the web, even though I've changed ISP's more than a dozen times. Each time I changed access providers, I've simply had my web site host automatically forward my email to my new ISP.

However, most of the major hosting services now offer POP (Post Office Protocol) accounts in addition to simple email forwarding - commonly without any additional cost.

This means that if you've got your web site professionally hosted, you can probably retrieve your email directly from their server.

Taking advantage of this option means no more email forwarding, changing your forwarding address or worrying about mail not being reliably relayed to your ISP account.

For instance, any email sent to canale.com now waits on the host's server for me to log in sand check, regardless of which ISP I'm using at any given moment. This can be done with any standard email program, though I prefer Eudora Pro.

This also makes it easier to segregate your email, using your ISP email account for personal use, for example, while keeping your web hosted domain account strictly for business.

If you're paying for web site hosting, drop by your host's web site or call their customer service to see if this feature is available for you. You'll probably be glad you did!

Published: August 4, 2000

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